Multisorting machine.



J. POWERS.v 4P/IUiLTISOHTING MACHINE. APPLICATlON FILED FEB. l0. I916\ `1.919. s sunwsnen 1.

Patented July 22 wwwa W l Y l l I7 www@ I. POWERS. MULTISORTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. Io. 191e.

Patented July 22, 1919.

J. POWERS.

IVIULTISORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I0, ISIS- `1 ,$10,433. Patented July 22, 1919.

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WN NM' mum.

5y fw dw J. POWERS.

MULTISURTING MACHINE.

APFLICATION FILED FEB. 10. l9l6.

Patented July 22, 1919.

SHEETS-SHEET 4- J.. POWER-S.

4MLILTVIORTIIIIG MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED FEB. l0. IBIS. 31,310,433. Patented July 22, 1919.

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[Magma-wf 1. POWERS. MULTISORTING MACHINE.

APPLlCATION FILED FEVB.10,19}6.

Patented July 22, 1919.

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lllllllll'lTl'l K lllllllll u unl I. POWERS.

MuLTlsoRrNG MAcHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I0. 1916.

1.310,433. Patented July 22, 1919.

SHEETSA'HEET 7.

Wiaemfe: Zwem?! M @a Jzme Powerd 1. PowERs.

MULTISORTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION F|LED FEB.10| |916. 1,31 0,433. Patented July 22, 1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

UNITED STATES PATENT www JAMES. POWERS, F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB. TOPOWERS ACCOUNTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

mnmxsonrmefmcnm'n I To all 'whom z't mag/:concern Be it known that I, JAMES Powells, a citi- I l zen of the United States, residingin New l,number of York, in the county of New York and State `of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiso'rting -Machines, of which the following isa `specification.' I Y This invention relates to methods of sortin by card accounting machines and especia ly to a method for'sorting a plurality' of cards simultaneously and to the machine forl carrying out such. method.

.The method consists'e'ssentially in sorting with apparatus having a plurality of sorting machines, lin number corresponding t-o the possible assortments, each machine comprising a. card feed, ia single pm analyzing mechanism, setting mechanism operated @by said analyzing mechanism, a sorted card receptacle, an unsortedcard recep tacle, and deflectors. controlled by said setset to sort out theV assortment2, and' the Iref v ting mechanism wherebythe Unsorted cards will be ready again to be passedthrough..

' In the arrangement,"i v'there areten ma' chines for instance to correspond@ the first ten integers l to 10 inclusive, the machines may be placed in la row along side of one another, and the .analyzing mechanism of the first one of the yrow .set to sort out the' assortment l, the analyzing mechanism of p thenext in the row adjacent to said first one,

.maining machines of the ,row setto: sort out assortments consecutively from 3l 'to 10 so that the end sorting machine will be set to sort out assortment 10.

With the foregoing arrangement, the pack of. record cards to be sorted will be distrib-p uted in the several card feeds ofthejseveral sorting machines,y the machines thereuponstarted whereupn the cards of the several feeds will be fed through the several analyz- Snecication of Letters Patent.

chine-1 Y Patenuted July 22, i919.

Appneatin nieu February 1.o. 191e. seria-1mb. 77,386.

and-.placed intofthe card feed of the"1 assortmcnt sorting machine, and this removal of unsorted cards and introduction thereof into other card feeds repeated until all the cardshave been eliminated or sorted. A

A particular object of the lpresent invention 1s to provide a machine whereby the foregoing method can be carried out.

With machines of the vclass aboveoutlined, it is also desirable to disengage the card feed with facility, and -to properly packthe cards in the orderin which they are discharged in the receptacles providedV for'their reception. To thiscnd, and by which the aforesaid, as well as other features, capabilities and advantages ofthe invention are madeV possible,one-specic embodiment of the invention dhas lbeencontrived which is illusl trated inthe accompanying 'drawings in wh ich-"V f a Figure 1 is a side elevation of the appara- Fig. 2 is a fragmental section onthe line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3v is a section"I on theA line 3f?) of i ig. 'Allis 'a fragmental `perspective showing Athe arrangement of the packers for properly positioningthe cards vin their receptacles after having been discharged from the ma- 1 Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmental sectional views showing-.two ositions of the engaging means vfor the card geed actuating means. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.,

Fig. 8 is a fragmental plan of the carriage on which the analyzing pin is mounted. A

Fig. 9 is a fragmental end elevation showing the carriage illustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental side elevation of 'thecarriage shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental .plan partly in section of the clutch fordisconnecting the feed rolls of the cards.

Fig. 1-2 is a fragmental side elevation' of the clutch arrangement. shown in Fig. 1l.

Fig..13 is an elevation of the support on which the anchoring means are disposed for the clutch lever.

Fig. 14 is asection on the linc .fcof Fig. l,

Fig; 15 is a fragmental planshowing the` ing the relative positions of the several elements of a com lete machine.

In the embo iment illustrated a machine for carrying out the method constituting the present invention comprises essentially (see Fig. 16), a main frame A inclosing a plurality of sorting machines in the present instance ten in number, each havln a card hopper B, a pinA box portion C on-W ich the carnage D formounting the analyzing pinA l I depressed the rods 4 3 will befreleased from E is slidably mounted, deflectors F which are operatively connected with setti'n mechanism G (Fig. 3), and receptacles enoted generally by H in which the cards discharged from the pin box are deflected by the deiectors F according to the setting of the setting mechanism G.

The several sortin machines which have downwardly projecting frame portions 20- are secured to. the sidewalls 21 of the main frame A by means of the tie rods 22, three being shown in the present instances (Figs. 1 and 3). Also extending through all of the sorting machines 'and common to them all is the main driving shaft S.

As constituting elements of the several sorting machines which are independent'of one another (see Fig. 3), arethe following:

a card hopper B in the bottomof which a card picker 23 is reciprocably mountedfby connection to the llever 24 fulcrumed on the shaft 25 and pivotally connected at its lower endto the rod 26 vwhich is slidably mounted in the bearing 27 andcoperates' with the bore of the cylindrical portion 28 which is mounted in the bear-ing 29 and has von its inner end a roller 30 resi'liently heldfin en- Ation 3 5 and two downwardly extending side "portions 36 which are guided by the pro-v gagement with the cam 31jfxed on the shaft4 S by the spring 32 connecting thejlug33 with the bearing 29....

Disposed above the shaftiS is -thefde' res-- sible member 34 comprising essential y a box-like member having an upper 'plate por- ]ections 37 secured to the wall members 20. The depressible member 34 isf resiliently held in its upper osition by the levers 38 fulcrumed on the s aft 39, the levers'38'engaging the side portions 36, and being maintained in supporting position by the springs 40 secured to the rear arms 41 of-the levers 38. Therear arms 41 are 'disposed to cooperate with the recessed-front arms 42 of the reciprocating rods43 slidably mounted in the bearings 44 and 44 eachrod 43 having a exten Acrumed to the shaft 48 with its forwardly in 45 for enga f ment by an upward] ding arm 46 vogg-'a bell crank 47 fu extending arm 49 provided with a roller 50 resiliently held inengagement with the' cam 51 on the shaft S b the spring 52. The

" `rods 43 `are resilient y maintained in their forward position by the sprin s 53 strained between the bearings 44 and t e lower ends tending portionLSf an a rearwardly ex-.j,

' tending portion 5.9.'. :The connection of the" de ilectors 57 with'thedepressible member 34 is such that when the depressible member. is

the arms 41 of the levers 38 :and thereby lib-V eratedv to permit the springs 53 tothrust them forwardly and Ithereby tilt the deflectors 57 so that their rearwardly extending portions 59 are swung upwardly out of the path of the cards discharged in the manner hereinafter to be described.

. Disposed in thel path of movement `of the cards fed in by the picker 23, are the feed rollers 60 by which the cards fedY in by such picker23 are received, by such rollers 60 fed to the stop plate 71 tobe positioned thereby'for analysis, and then discharged across vthe guide lates 61 from which acoordin vto thepositioning of the deflectors 57 the cards are either :directed upward between the feed'rollers 62 across the guide plate 63 against the inclined sup ort 64 supported on theioor member, 65 ci, the upper or unsorted card receptacle which floor member v 65 is secured to the upwardly extending side `wall members 66 or'else deflected across `the curved guide plate 67 between thev feed rollers 68 and then against the inclined sup- 'port 69 `disposed on the floor member 70 of the lower or sorted card receptacle. The

stopplate 71 is formed on the u per end ehtly held `in engagement with the cam 76 on the shaft S bythespring 77.

For driving the feed rollers 60 a driving sprocket wheel 78"(Fig. 2) is journaled on the outside of'one of the wall' members 20 and geared to the shafts of the lower rollers 60, the shafts of the rollers 60 at either end of the downwardly extending portions 36 extending across and connecting the rollers on bothsides of the path of 4movement of the cards, and such 'shafts being suitably connected to one another by the gearsv 79 (Fig.v 1) in mesh with Aone another. The driving wheel 78 is connected i to the sprocket wheel 8O loosely mounted on the Shaft S lby the sprocket chain 81. For the purpose of connecting the sprocket wheel 8O to rotate with vthe shaft S, the clutch collar 82 splined to the shaft Sis provided, which collar 82 is slidably mounted on said shaft S and pivotally connected by the link 83 (Figs. 11 and 12) surmun'd'ing the collar 82. The link 83 has a rearwardly extending arm 84! pivotally connected to the bracket 85, a. forwardly extending arm 86 having a downwardly extending lug S7 (Fig. 13), to cooperate with either one or the-other of the detents 88 and 88 in the spring 89 which is mounted on-fthe cross bar 90 secured to the walls 20, thefforward end of the arm 86 being provided with a handle 91. When the handle 91 is swung so that its lug 87 engages the detent-l 88, the clutch member S2 wil-l be in "engagement with the sprocket wheel V30 andanohor the same to rotate with the shjaft'S, and on the other hand when the handle 91 is swung so that its lug 87 engl esthe detent 88', the clutch member 82 wi libe removed from the sprocket wheel 80 and permit. the rotation of the shaft S without-'the actuation. of thesprocket-wheel 80.

.'Byythe foregoing arrangement, the feed rollle'irs .,i60.may be anchored against actuation whenever desired. Y t

Disposedabove each depressible member -34 and tothe side walls 20 there Aare provided for each .sorting machine aguide plate 93 and v apdie plate94 between which the card to befsorted is located for analysis. The plates 93 and 94 are provided with corresponding openings to cooperate with an lanalyzing pin 95 which is supported on a carnage 96.

cally reciprocable.carriagesupporting frame 97 1sv p l two eomgatedv en'd bars 9 8 extending entirely across theseveralsortmg machines and .connected to one another at their ends by the side` brackets'99 which are mounted and 'guided vertically slidable between Ithe outer side walls 21l and the plates 100 secured to theroutside of suchwalls 21. Theshaft S extends through the walls 21 and vis provided on its ends'gwith vcams 101'fhav1ngcam grooves in which travel thev camy rollers 102 vwhich 'are secured to the lower'ends of the side brackets 99. By the aforesaidcam connection, the `:frame 97 is recipiocated vertically.

. Of the carriages 96, one is preferably provided for each sorting machine and disposed in operative-relation thereto. The carriages 96 each comprise essentially an upper bar 103 Iand a lower bar 104 extending across and disposed on the .upper and loweredge'srespectively of the sidel bars 98. Thefbars 103 and 104 areconne'ed to one another byl the end members 105. y The end 105 are provided with outward-ly proj ectin'gportions 106 to afford bearings for the shaft 107, at one end of which shaft 107, link 108 (Fig. 10) is fxedwhch is pivotally conrovided which comprises essentially the path of movement of the locking plate 109, there is formed an elongated slot 115 through which the pin 95 extends and along which it is slid-able, the upper portion of the bar 103 along this slot 115 being chamfered to receive the beveled head 114 of the pin 95. From the foregoing it will appear that when the pin 95 is depressed with its head 114 resting in the chamfered port-ion of the slotv 115. and the frame 97 thereupon descends, the bell crank arm 110 by its coperationfwith the rod 111 will draw the locking plate 109 over the edge ot said head 114 and stively anchor such pin 95 in its descen ed position. The lower portion of each pin 95 extends through an elongated slot 116 formed in the bair 1.04 along which it is slidable. For anchoring the carriages 96 in the frame 97, serrated rails 117 are formed on the outside of the bars 98. For coperating with these rails 117 each carriage is provided with av` transverse bracket 118 which extends parallel to the locking plate 109 above the entire length of a carriage As common 1n sorting` machines a. verti-g These levers 122 are pivot-ally connabbed to rods 123 extending upward through the brackets 118, the lower ends of which rods' are fixed to the bar 103 of the by the plates 124;. For normally maintaining the bracket 118 in raised position when the1=cam levers are in disengaged pos1t1on,.the spr1ngs`125 are dispdsed on the rods 123 and strained between the bracket 118 and the pl'atesl24. The c a-m levers 122 are provided with cams 126 whereby when -the levers are depressed they will depress the bracket 1158,- against the tension of the springs 125 and #bring the serrated arms into engagement with the serrated rails 117.

.For conveniently positioning the pin 95` the brackets 127-'are provided with their horizontal. arms 128 positioned snugly.

against the lower and upper sides of the bars 103 and 104 respectively, and the overhangings through which thepins 95 extend. For

resiliently and normally maintaining the pins in their lower position', collars 131 are formed on the pins 95 between which and the upper horizontal arms 128 of the brackets 127, the springs 132 are strained.

For suitably anchoring the brackets 127 in position, t'he lower bars 104 are provided withv a plurality of recesses 13 3 into which the spring pressedpins 134 engage. The recesses 133 are in alinement with the rows ofopenings in the plates 93 and 94 while the serrated engagements of the rail 117 with the arms 119 are in alinement with the several openings of a row of'openings in said plates 93and 94 so as to permit anchorin the pins 95 in position for registration wit i any particular opening desired.

The operation of the pins 95 with the depressible members 34 will be substantially as follows: The pins 95 may be positioned in any of the openings of the plates 93 and 94. Each depresslble member is of sufficient area to extend across all the openings of a platey 94. Thereupon when a card is positioned between a set of plates 93 and 94 and a. perforation of such card registers with the analyzingV pin 95 .cooperating therewith, f

such pin 95 wi l be permitted to pass there? through. The successive descent of the carriage 96 will cooperate withits bell crank 106 to positively anchor such analyzing pin 95 in its lower position and consequentl the depressible plate 34 yunder the plate 94 ying in the path of movement ot theaforesald anchored-pin 95, will be Struck thereby and rock the levers 38 to permit the rods-'43 to' be thrust forward by theirsprings 53 and in turn' actuate the defiectors 57 to permit the card thus sorted to be fed into the lower or sorted card receptacle.

For automatically disconnecting the pickers 23 from actuation, whenever the card supplies have been exhausted or for any other reason no card is positioned between plates 93 and 94, the bent` rods .135 (F1g. 7) are provided one for eaohsorting machine, each preferably having a downwardly eX- tending linger 136 at its 'upper end which cooperates with the register stop holes in the lates 93 and 94, an intermediate arm portlon 137, and a lower inwardly extending portion 139. To the arm'portion 137 the lever 138.is pivotally connected. The lever 138 is fulcrumed at one end to one side wall 20 and its other end is formed into a link 140. Throughalll of, the links` 140, a common reciprocatlng rod 141 extends which is connected to the downwardly extending brackets 99 of the frame 97. For normally the side walls 20.

The lower inwardly extending portions Y139 of the bent levers 135 extend over and rest on the inwardly extending arms 143 of the Y-shaped levers 144, fulcrumed to the brackets 145. The Y-shaped levers 144 also have downwardly extending arms 146 resting on the levers 147 which are pivoted to the brackets 148 formed on the cylindrical portions 28. The levers 147 have downwardly extending fingers 149- which Vextend into the openings 150 formed in the cylindrical portionsl 28. The levers 4147 are normally maintained under tension in an upward direction by the springs 157 strained between such levers 147 and the cylindrical portions 28. The rods 26 are provided with y recesses 151 adaptedto be normally engaged by the fingers 149 to permit the actuation of the card pickers 23. For latching the le- "vers'147 in engagement with rods 26, the

engage the pins 161 formed on the arms 143. The QY-shaped levers 144 have upwardly extending arms `152 which extend upwardly between and in the path of movesaid walls 20. The operation of the foregoing stop arrangement is 4substantially as .followsr When no card or .a stop card is disposed between two plates 93 and 94 of a c. and thereby drawdownwardly the finger 1y 1365i the lever 135 whereupon its inwar ment of the stops 153 and 154 on the shift .i 'rods 155 mounted in bearings 156 formed on extending' portion 13 9 by engagement with the arm 143 will rock the lever 144 thereby rocking the latch 158 to release the lever 147 whereupon the spring 157 will raise the lever 147 out of engagement with the recess 151 of the rod 26 and thus permit the actuation of the cylindrical portion 28 by the g cam 31 without actuating e card picker 23. With the rise ofthe brackets 99,.the bent lever 135 will of course again 'be raised.

Then to reconnect the rod 26 withthe cylindrical portion 28, it will :be necessa draw out the rod .in order that the stop 154 will 4strike the upwardly extending arm 152 so that and until the finger 149 ofthe lever 147 again engages the recess 151 of the rod 26. l

For packing` the cards from the several l across all of the upper receptacles and supv ported by the upper arms 165 of the brackets 166, and the blades 163 are secured to the common shaft 167 extending across all the lower receptacles and supported bythe lower arms 168 of the brackets166. The lower ends of the brackets 166 are secured to the shift rods 169, two being provided, eaeh-slidably mounted on the outside of a' side wall 21 by the bearings 179.v On each rod 169 between the bearings 170 there is formed a collar 173. The front ends of the rods 169 are provided with rollers 171 resilifr .y

modifications may be made to the details ently held in engagement with the cams172 on the shaft S by the springs 174 between' the collars 173 and the rearward bearings 170.

The cam 172 is timed to actuate the pack-f ing blades 162 and`163 for each discharge of a card, The operation is substantially as follows: The carriages D of the ten sorting machines are positioned eachA on a corresponding row of openings, but with their pins E disposed on different openings one relative to the other, the arrangement being preferably such that the pin E of the first sorting machine willbe positioned over thel designation character 1 ,'the pin :E of the econd sorting machine positioned over the' esl of t e remaining sorting machines,V consecutively in the same order so that the pin of the last sorting machine will be positionedl over the designation character 10. Then the cards to be sorted may be distributed in.'

the several card hoppersB and the driving e mechanism started. As the cards pass through the plates 93 and 94 of the several sorting machines, thesorted cards will be deflected by the dellectors F into the lower A or sorted card'receptacles H and the Aunsorted cards deflected by the del'ectors F into the upper or unsorted card receptacles. H. Asvsoon as a supply .of cards in a ho per B is exhausted, it's picker plate 23 wi l `be stopped by the bent lever 135, whereupon if desirable, pending the refilling of suchho'p per-,the handle 91 .may be manipulated to disconnect the feed rollers from actuation. As soon as any'card hopper isl exhausted, say for instance this were al card vhop er oiA the third sorting machine in Which'ft u e pin E were set with .the desi ation'character 3, the unsorted cards of t e precedin Asorting machine inI which thegpin isset ory the designation character 27 will be taken and placed in the hopper ofthe. third sortigg machine, and thereupon the rods 91V a v ation character"2,fandthe pins E exhausted from the unsorted batches. 1 1 .f

the cards to be sorted into a batches; analyzing the cai-'ds o Y each batch 155 shifted so that the card feed and feed rollers ofV this third sorting machine will again oplerate. In this manner, manipulation oft that 'is whenever a card hopper is exhausted, the unsorted cards disposed in the unsorted card receptacle of the preceding sorting machine ma be taken and supplied to the said exhausts card hopper. By this method, it will be Seen that the supply of unsorted cards will diminish and may be exhausted even before all the sorting machines have been supplied ten distinct-times and at any rate, assuming that all of the cards to be sorted may be sorted by one of the ten sorting machines, the duration of the tenth operatlon of the sorting machines will be compartively small compared to the iirst operation in sorting a certain pack of cards.

It `is obvious that various changes and of construction and tothe several steps of the aforesaid method without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

I claim:

e unsorted cards may be continued,

1. A method of sorting cards or similar objects, said method consisting in dividing the cards to be sortedinto a plurality of batches; analyzing the cards vof' each batch,

'and selecting from each batch all'of'the cards containing certain'data; placin the selected and unselected cards from each atch in a sorted and an; unsorted pile respectively;v and replenishing the cards of any batch that maybe exhausted from the unsorted piles derived from other batches.

2.` A method of-sorting cards orsimilar objects, said method consistingin dividing the cardsto be sorted intofa plurality of batches; simultaneously analyzing-fthe: cards of each batch one byone, and selecting'froin-` each batch all of the cards containing. certain data; placing` the selected and unselected cards from each batch in a sorted and an unsorted pile respectively; and replenishing the cards ofanybatch that ma be batches; analyzing the cards-o each batch j piles derived lio and 'selecting from each batch all Aof the i cards containing certain data dilferent' from the data selected from, the other batches; lacing the selected and` unselectedcards om each batch yin a sorted and anunsorted v pile respectively; and replenishing the cards oany batch that may beexhausted from f the unsorted .piles derived from other 4.1A method of sorting cards or similar objects, said method consisting" in dividin lurality o and selecting from each batch all of the cards -containing certain data; placing the selected and unselected cards from each batch in.i a sorted and an unsorted pile respectively; and replenishing the cards of, any .batch that may be about to be exhausted from the unsorted piles derived from other batches.

5. A method of sorting cards or similar objects, said method consisting in diyiding the cards to be sortedinto a plurality of batches; analyzing the cards of each batch and selecting from each batch allof the cards containing certain data; placing the selected and unselected cards from each batch in av sorted andanl unsorted pile respectively; replenishing the cards of any batch that may be exhausted from the unsorted piles derived from other. batches; and

continuing the operation until all the cards are sorted.

6. A method of sorting cards or similar objects, said method consisting 'individui the cards to be sorted into a plurality o batches; simultaneously analyzing the cards f of each batch one by one and selecting from each batch allof the cards containin certain data dierent from the data se AectedV vfrom' the other batches; placing the selected and unselected cards from each, batch .in a sorted and 'an unsorted pile respectively;

and replenishing the cards of any batch thatmay be about to be exhausted from the unsorted piles derived from other batches.

7. A method of sorting cards or similar objects, said method consisting in diyiding the cards to be sorted into a plurality7 of batches; 4simultaneously analyzing the cards of each batch one by one and selecting from each batch all of the cards containing certain data diferentfrom the datase1ected'from` the other batches; placin the selected and unselected cards from'eac batch in a sortedand anl unsorted pile respectively; replenish-- ing the cards of any batch that may be about to be exhausted from the unsorted piles derived from other batches; and continuing the operation with all .of the pilesy and batches until all ofthe cards are sorted.

8. A method carried out-by the use of anV apparatus having a plurality of sorting machines, each set to make a: i a card hopper for each'sortingmachinejor holding the batches to be sorted; an unsorted card receptacle for each sorting machine and means for operating said sorting machines so that the cards placed in said hoppers will be fed v into analyzing'v osition, and from there according to their ata either conveyed to the unsorted card receptacles or not, such method consisting in dividing the cards to be sorted into a plurality of batches; analyzing the cards of each batch and selecting Ifrom'each batch all of the cards containing certain data; placing. the selected `and un- Herent sorting;

ed card receptacle or upwardly into the unsorted 'card rece tacle.

10. 'In a multi-sorter, the combination of` a sorted `card receptacle; an unsorted card receptacle placed near the sorted card receptacle in easily accessibley position; means for lconveying cards directly tc the sorted card receptacle or into the unsorted card receptacle, an unresiliently yieldably supported follower support in each receptacle; and packers for packing the cards into the re.- ceptacles.

11. In a multi-sorter, the combination of an analyzing device; means for feeding cards thereto; a sorted card receptacle; an unsorted card receptacle placed near the sorted cardvreceptacle .in easily accessible position; means controlled by the analyzing A'device for conveyin 'cards directly tothe sorted card receptac e or into the u'nsorted card receptacle; packers for packing the cards into, the rece tacles; and operatin means ,for the pacliers common to bot packers.

12. In a multi-sorter, the combination of a pair of perforated plates; Imeans for feed ing cards therebetween; a sorting-element adapted to pass through the perforations of: said plate and a cardtherebetween at any part of the plate to which the element may be set; meansfor lookin and further prof jecting said element a er it has passed `through the plates and cards; a movable plate adapted to be moved by. said element as it'is passed through any of said 'perfo-,

rations; a pair of receptacles;a'deilector operatively connected to said movable plate for deflecting said cards; and means for conveying cards from Vthe perforated plates to the delector and thenceto the receptacles.

13. In a multi-sorter; the combination of a card hopper; a pairofsuperposed perforated sorting plates; an analyzing element adapted to pass through-alined perforatons of -said plates and a' perforation in a card therein y means for feeding cards from the hoppe'rto between said plates; na sorted card receptacle; an unsorted card receptacle near the sorted card receptacle; means for corr veying the cards along a path from said plates to and into thesorted card receptacle; a delector for deilecting cards from said path;'means operated by said elementfor said deflector with said sorting element .v

deflectiiig a card from said path; means for conveying the deflected card from said deflector to and into the unsorted card receptacle; and packers for packing the conveyed cards in saidreceptacles.

14. In a lsorting element for` multi-sorters,l the combination of a card hopper; analyzing card supports; a sorted card receptacle; an unsortedcard receptacle disposed above the sorted card receptacle; feeding means for feeding the cards from said hopper on to the analyzingsupports; a sortingelement cooperating with said supports and the card thereon; a deflector; means for feeding the,

cards from said analyzing supports to said deflector; and means operatively connecting whereby according to the data of the cards the deflector is positioned either to convey the cards upwardly into the unsorted card receptacle or to the sorted card receptacle,

the position of the unsorted card receptacle Y facilitating the removal of the cards are to be further sorted.

15. In a multi-sorter, the combination ofl which a card magazine; an analyzing device; a

pair of receptacles disposed one above thel other; a defiector controlled by the analyzing device; means from feeding the cards from the magazine to the analyzingdevice; and

conveying means for conveying the cards from the analyzing device to the deflector and thence upwardly to one or the` other receptacles, said conveying means maintaining continuous hold on the cards until they g are finally positioned in the receptacles in the same relative order and facing direction as they were in the magazine.

16..In' a multi-sorter, the combination of a card magazine; an analyzing device; a-

pair of receptacles; a deflector controlled by the analyzing device; meansy for feeding the .cards ,from the magazine to the analyzing device; and conveying means for conveying the cards from the analyzing device to the deector and thence upwardlyl to o'ne or the other receptacle, said conveyf ing means maintaining continuous hold on the cards until they are placed inthe re-,

from the magazine to thean'alyziiig device;

and conveying rollers for 'conveying the cards from the analyzing device tothe dei'lector and thence upwardly to one orl the I 'i ports to said deflectors, means operatively other receptacle, said conveying rollers maintaining continuous hold onthe cards until they are placed in the receptacles andplacing them 4in the same relative order and facing direction as they Were in the magazine.

18. In a multi-sorter, the combination of a card'magazine; an analyzing device; a pair of receptacles; a delector controlled by the analyzing device; means for feeding the cards fron'i the magazine to t-lie analyz ing device; and conveying rollers for conveying the cards from the analyzing device to the deflector and thence 'upwardly to one or the other receptacle; conveying means maintaining continuous hold on the cards until they are placed in the receptacles in the same relative order and facing direction as they were in the magazine.

19. In a multi-sorter, the combination of a card magazine; an analyzing device; a pair of receptacles one above' the other; a deflector controlled by the analyzing device; means for feeding the cards from the magazine to the analyzing device; and conveying means for conveyin the cards from the analyzing device to teA deflector and thence upwardly to onel or theother receptacles, said conveying means maintaining continuous hold oii'the 'cards until they are placed in the receptacles and.. placing them in the same, relative order aiidfacing'di 4 vrection as they Were in the magazine.

20. A multi-sorter having a plurality sorting vmachines, a card hopper for each sorting machine, an analyzing-card support,

a sorted card receptacle for each sorting ,machiiie, an unsorted card'receptacle-- for each sorting machine, feeding means for feeding the cards from said hoppers into analyzing position in said sorting machines,

delectors, means for feeding the cards from analyzing position to saiddeflectors, means operatively connecting said deflectors with said sorting machines whereby the cards. according to their data are either conveyed to the unsorted card receptacles or not; a vertically reciprocal frame common to all the sorting machines, carriages on said frame, a carriage for each sorting machine,

analyzing pins on said carriages, one for each carriage, each pin set for a di'erent setting, and means for reciprocating said .frame so that all of 'the pins Will simultaneously coperate with the several analyzv ing cardv supports.

21. A multiesorter having a plurality of sorting elements, a card hopper forl eachsorting element, analyzing card supports, a sorted card receptacle for each sorting element, an unsorted card receptacle for each' sorting element, feeding means for feeding I'the cards from, said hoppers on to said analyzing supports, deiiectors, means for feeding'the cards -from said analyzing supconnecting said deflectors With said sorting elements whereby the cards according to their data are eitherconveyed to sorted cr unsorted card receptacles,card packers -for each of the card receptacles, brackets, shafts on which said card pac-kers are mounted,

said analyzing supports, deectors, means 4for feedlng the cards from said analyzing supports to said delectors, means operatively connecting said delectors with said sorting elements whereby the cards according to their data are either conveyed to the sorted or the unsorted card receptacles, weights disposed lin said card receptacles yagainst which the cards to be fed into the receptacles will rest, card packers for each of the card receptacles, brackets, shaftsI on which said card packers are mounted, said shafts being secured to said brackets, and means common to all the sorting elements for actuating said brackets whereby all of said card packers will be vsimultaneously actuated to pack the cards in said receptacles against said weights, the weights gradually receding from said card packers according to the number of'cards beingfed yinto the receptacles in which they are dis-V posed'.

23. In a Vmulti-sorter havinga plurality'ot` vsets .of card supporting plates provided with registering openings, a frame common to all the v card supporting plates v reciprocably mounted relative thereto7 carriages on said frame onefor each setl of card. supporting plates, `an analyzingvpl'n on each carriage shiftably mounted thereon, and means vfor reciprocating said frame whereby all of said i analyzing pins will be simultaneously actuated to ooperate with their respective card supporting plates.

24. lin ak multi-sorter having a set of card supporting 'plates providedwith registering openings, a reciprocably mounted vanalyzing pin shiftable to cooperate with any set of registering openings of said set of card sup# 7 orting plates, a common depressible memer'disposed below said set of card supporting plates" to be engaged by said analyzing .pin when the card supported corresponds to the setting of the analyzing pin, means for locking the pin before engages the depres- -sible member, a sorted card receptacle, and

a detlector in operative relation with said .depressible member so that the actuation of 35 said depressible member will actuate vsaid deflector to permit the sorted card, to be conveyed into said sorted card receptacle.

25. In a multifsorter having a plurality of sets of card supporting plates provided with registering openings, a frame common to all the card supportingplates reciprocably mounted relative thereto, carriages on said frame, one for each set of card supporting plates, an analyzing pin mounted on each carriage, a stop pinin operative relation to each set ofsorting plates, a rod common to allthe stop pins connected to said frame and connected to said stop pins 4to positively raise said stop pins with'said frame, an operative connection between said stop pins and said rod whereby saidy rod may descend without lowering said stop pins below the surface of a card being supported, a card picker for each sorting element for feeding the card to the several card supporting plates, and a driving means for each sorting element for actuating its card picker, said stop pins being operatively connected to said driving means to disconnect same from a picker plate when permitted to descend.

26. ln a multi-sorter having a plurality of sets of card supporting plates provided with registering openings, va frame' common to all the card supporting plates reciprocablyk mounted relative thereto, carriages on said frame, one for each set of card supporting plates, an analyzing pin mounted lon each carriage, a stop pin 1n operative relation to each set of sorting plates, a rod common to all the stop pins connected to said frame and connected to said stop ypins to positively raise said stop pins with said frame, an operative connection between said stop pins and said rod whereby said rod may descend without lowering said stoppins below the surface of a-,card being supported, a

card picker for each supporting element 'for' feeding the card to the several card supporting plates,a driving means for each sorting element for actuating its cardpicker, said stop pins being operatively connected to said driving means' to disconnect same from a `picker plate when permitted to descend, feed rollers for each sorting element for feeding the cards through said cardv supporting plates, drivingmeans for the feed` rollers on each sorting element independentof one another, and lmeans for disconnecting 'the several driving means from the feed rollers dependent of one another. i

' 27.' ln an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ayieldable follower support, a packer, and means for p1acing articles between said packer and support.

28. lln an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a yieldable follower support tending to remain in any operative position; apacker; and means for placing articles between' said packer and support 29. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination of a yieldable `follower s'upport; a reciprocatory packer; and means for placing articles between said packer and support.

30. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a yieldalble follower supp'ort; a reciprocatory packer; and means for placing articles between said packer and support when the packer has been move away from the support.

31. In a apparatus of the character described, the combination of a yieldable follower support; a movable packer; and means for placing articles between said packei` and support when the packer has been moved away from the support.

32. In an apparatus of the character described, the` combination of a yieldable follower support tending to remain in any operative position; a reclprocatory packer; and means'l for placing articles one-by-one between 'said packer and support when the packer has been moved away from the suport. p 33. In an apparatus of the character de scribed,l the combination of a card receptacle; a follower support yieldably disposed vin said receptacle and tendingy to remain in any operative position' a reciprocatory packer; and means for placing cards in the receptacle. v

34. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a card receptacle; a follower support yieldably'disposed in said receptacle; a reciprocatory packer; and means for placing cards in the receptacle between the packer and said support. 35. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a card receptacle; a follower support yieldingly disposed in said receptacle' and tending` to remain in any operative position in which it is placed; a reciprocatory packer; and means for placing cards in the receptacle between the packer and said support.

.36. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a card receptacle having a flat lower wall; an inclined vsaid wall; a Vpacker adapted to reciprocate toward and away from said follower support; and means for placin cards oneby one between said packer an the packer has been moved away from the support.

v JAMES PGWERS. Vlitnesses GUsTAv DREws, H. D. PENNEY.

support when 

